Method and device for low temperature eradication or removal of ectoparasites

ABSTRACT

This disclosure relates generally to a system and method for the delivery of cooled air selectably using a device with removable component which directs cooled air to a desired area at or near the hair of a subject. The device may have one or more components which may be quickly and easily removed and replaced.

RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 62/888,241 filed Aug. 16, 2019 and U.S. ProvisionalPatent Application Ser. No. 62/976,776 filed Feb. 14, 2020.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This disclosure relates generally to a method for removing lice, liceeggs or other undesirable macroscopic parasites from skin or hairthrough the application of low temperature air or liquid and an airdelivery device with a removable component which directs cool air to adesired area at or near the hair of a subject with one or morecomponents which may be quickly and easily removed and replaced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Lice are scavengers. They feed on the dead skin and other debris foundin hair, scalp and other parts of a body. They are usually onlydiscovered once a colony has been established. An established colonywill include both adult lice and eggs. Mature females lay between threeto four eggs (“nits”) per day. If the adults are removed but not thenits, those nits will hatch within eight days and reproduce. It istherefore necessary to kill or remove both the adults and the nits toprevent re-infestation. Lice procreate by attaching their eggs to humanhair with saliva which makes the eggs difficult to remove. Lice may beremoved using only a mechanical removal method by removing the adultsand repeating the process after the nits have hatched. An example of amethod using a comb in combination with a liquid to remove lice isdisclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,006,758 issued to Thorne. Single sessiontreatments are far more convenient and also reduce the risk of licetransfer.

Traditionally, removal of lice in a single session requires extremelyhigh temperature air to kill both adults and nits. Heat is delivered tothe lice via increasing the temperature of ambient air and delivering itdirectly to the lice using a device like a traditional hair dryer.Extremely high temperatures are uncomfortable and potentially damagingto both skin and hair. Various methods have been developed to avoiddamage by applying heat only to hair, shielding more sensitive areas, orlowering the temperature. These methods of reducing discomfort alsolower the effectiveness of the lice eradication. Air delivery devicessuch as hot air blowers and hair dryers are typically used for a varietyof applications such as drying hair and cleaning or stripping surfacelayers. In addition, cold air blowers are sometimes used to style hairfrom a wet or dry condition. These traditional air delivery devices donot contemplate the application of cold air to an area to perform anon-cosmetic service.

In some prior methods, lice combs are used to mechanically remove bothadult lice and nits, and can be used either alone or in combination withheat treatment. Usually, combinations including mechanical removalattempt to compensate for the ineffectiveness of the heat treatment.Lice removal combs, such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,909,042 issuedto Bachrach et al, utilize the width of the teeth of the comb to allowhair to pass tightly between the teeth in order to separate insects fromthe hair. As a slight variation, combing is used in combination withcertain lubricating liquids in order to loosen the bonding agentadhering nits to hair. Combing methods can be generally effectivewithout prior heat treatment. However, mere combing requiresconsiderable time and effort to ensure that all lice are removed.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,261,427 issued to Dolev discloses a method ofelimination of lice through the application of heated air to the hair ofa person while directing the heated air away from the scalp in order toavoid discomfort. This method discloses the use of heated air withenough temperature to eradicate both adults and nits. This air deliverysystem is made less effective by the need to direct the air away fromthe scalp of the subject.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,685,969 issued to Van Scoik et al discloses a liceeradication treatment which applies a composition that releases, orabsorbs, heat when brought in contact with water to the infested area.This change in temperature desiccates the nits in the case of atemperature increase, immobilizes the parasites, and increases the pH ofthe environment of the nit. Removal is then accomplished through combingor other mechanical removal. This method discloses temperature changethrough a chemical process and liquid transfer, not an air transfer.

U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,789,902 and 8,162,999 both issued to Clayton et aldisclose methods of lice eradication that include heating a volume ofair, and directing the air at the lice located in an area, while stilleradicating a portion of the infestation. This method employs heated airat a temperature below the heat level in conventional treatments, but itencounters the same problems. In addition, the lower temperature isdifficult to transfer uniformly through hair and is somewhat lesseffective.

Cold temperatures are also effective to immobilize or kill adult lice,and weaken the bond between nits and hair. Cold is advantageous becausethere is no need to reduce exposure to skin and hair. Below ambient airtemperature treatments are used routinely in a clinical setting toreduce blood flow or nerve activity to a particular area reducinginflammation and swelling that causes pain around a joint or tendon.There is a substantial need for an effective, non-chemical, andpotentially therapeutic system for delivering low temperatures toimmobilize or kill lice which does not cause unnecessary discomfort.Cold temperatures directed to a scalp or head area effectivelyimmobilize or kill adult lice and weaken the bond between nits and hair.An air delivery device that separates components contemplates thedisposable nature of at least one of the components. Prior air deliverydevices affix each piece in a way that requires removal of a fastener orsome other more permanent fixture. The casing and interior componentsare not meant to be removable or replaceable. The removal of a componentthat comes into contact with the person is advantageous because thecomponent can then be replaced for each use. The removed components canbe sanitized or checked for dirt and debris in some fashion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a first preferred aspect, a volume of cooled air at a temperaturelowered below ambient air is used to kill or immobilize ectoparasites.Humans and other mammals can tolerate, and in some instances benefitfrom, exposure to temperatures much lower than what is required toimmobilize or kill ectoparasites such as lice. Where the cooled airimmediately immobilizes ectoparasites, it renders them incapable ofeluding mechanical removal. Immobilization may be required in the caseof adult lice where said ectoparasite is able to move or adhere to hairin a manner sufficient to elude traditional methods of removal.

According to the preferred method of the present invention, head liceare removed along with nits after application of lowered temperatures tothe hair. The hair may be arranged prior to, or simultaneously with, theapplication of liquid. An alternate variation of the preferred methodincludes application of a liquid to a certain portion and location onhair prior to an application of cooled air. The combination of liquidand lowered temperatures immobilizes the adult lice and affects the bondbetween the nits and the hair. The compromised lice and nits may then bemechanically removed. In the preferred embodiment, the mechanicalremoval is accomplished by a removable component with tines as describedbelow.

In another aspect, the low temperature of the treatment reduces theefficacy of the bonding agent used by the lice to attach nits to thebase of hair. The exact chemical makeup of the bonding agent has evolvedto produce a strong bond under certain specific conditions, and is knownin the art. Where the agent's conditions are modified, the strength ofthe bond is compromised.

In another aspect, the method may include the selective application of aliquid lubricating agent such as water to hair before introduction oflow temperature air to adult lice and nits. The liquid conducts heataway from the parasites, and may act as a barrier against theintroduction of ambient air to warm the parasites after the initialapplication of cooled air. In addition, the lubrication facilitates themechanical removal of parasites.

In another preferred aspect, the removable component is easily separablefrom the other components required to accomplish the movement andreduction in temperature of a volume of air. The other components may bean engine for rotating a fan, and temperature reduction components. Theother components may be housed separately from the other components ofthe air delivery device. The temperature reduction components may be airdirecting housing which directs moving air across a metal coilcontaining refrigerant or other heat absorbing chemicals. A directinghousing sufficient to allow the passage of cooled air from thetemperature reduction components to the removable portion may be used.In the preferred embodiment, flexible tubing directs the cooled air fromthe other components to the removable component.

In the preferred embodiment, two or more tines are disposed on theremovable component, and may be used to accomplish the mechanicalremoval of head lice along with nits after an application of lowtemperatures to the hair. The tines may have a generally taperingrectangular shape to allow hair to pass between each tine.

Alternatively an application of a liquid to a certain portion andlocation on hair prior to application of cooled air may be used. Thehair may be arranged prior to, or simultaneously with, the applicationof liquid using the comb. The combination of liquid and low temperaturesimmobilizes the adult lice and affects the bond between the nits and thehair. The compromised lice and nits may then be mechanically removed bypassing hair between two or more tines.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, illustrategenerally, by way of example, but not by way of limitation, variousembodiments discussed in this application.

FIG. 1 is a planar side view of the air delivery device with removablecomponent.

FIG. 2 is a graphical illustration depicting the steps required tocomplete a preferred embodiment of the method.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following detailed description, reference is made to theaccompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown,by way of illustration, specific embodiments in which the inventiveconcepts may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficientdetail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, andit is to be understood that the embodiments may be combined or usedseparately, or that other embodiments may be utilized and that design,implementation, and procedural changes may be made without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts. The followingdetailed description provides examples, and the scope of the presentinvention is defined by the claims to be added and their equivalents.

The preferred embodiment of the air delivery device with removablecomponent 10 is seen in FIG. 1 . Hose 13 has a cavity and a generallycylindrical end piece which allows a volume of cooled air to passthrough its interior. Hose 13 separates other components such as a motorand fan together with a cooling element from replaceable portion 11. Inthe preferred embodiment, ambient air is moved by a fan which is thendirected across a coil containing a refrigerant to absorb heat. Thecooled air is then directed through hose 13 to removable component 10.Sleeve 12 operates to releasably affix replaceable portion 11 relativeto hose 13 such that replaceable portion 11 does not move relative tohose 13 during operation. Sleeve 12 has a lower portion 17 whichaccommodates a portion of hose 13 such that no air may escape as itpasses between hose 13 and sleeve 12. In the preferred embodiment sleeve12 holds hose 13 via a frictional engagement. Sleeve 12 may be ofslightly smaller aperture than hose 13 and may deform to accommodate andfirmly hold hose 13 in place. Sleeve 12 may be of some elastic materialsuch that it may deform to hold hose 13 under slight pressure when hose13 is inserted into lower portion 17 of sleeve 12. Sleeve 12 then taperstowards an upper portion 16 of sleeve 12.

Upper portion 16 of sleeve 12 accommodates a portion of replaceableportion 11 such that no air may escape as the air passes between sleeve12 and replaceable portion 11. In the preferred embodiment sleeve 12holds replaceable portion 11 via a frictional engagement. Sleeve 12 maybe of slightly smaller aperture to firmly hold replaceable portion 11 inplace. Sleeve 12 may be of some elastic material such that it may deformto hold replaceable portion 11 under slight pressure when replaceableportion 11 is inserted into upper portion 16 of sleeve 12.

Replaceable portion 11 has at least one aperture 14 extending from body18 of replaceable portion 11 in a direction sufficient to direct airaway from the hand of an operator such that the operator may control thedirection of the flow of air while not being subjected or exposed to theair flow. Aperture 14 may be of a size or shape sufficient to allow forthe direction of the flow of air. In the preferred embodiment, aperture14 is directed at a right angle away from the direction of air flow inbody 18 such that a user may hold body 18 comfortably. Additionally inthe preferred embodiment, aperture 14 has a smaller width than the widthof the interior of body 18 to increase the pressure of air as the airflows from the interior of body 18 through aperture 14.

Replaceable portion 11 has at least one tine 15 extending away from body18. In the preferred embodiment more than one tine 15 is disposed in arow along body 18 such that the operator may arrange and direct the hairof a person through the tines. In addition, the tines may be of aspecific width to operate to remove any lice, nits or other parasitespresent on hair. In the preferred embodiment aperture 14 directs air inthe same direction as tine 15 in order to allow the air flow to moreeasily reach the scalp beneath hair.

The preferred embodiment of the present method for the removal of anectoparasite infestation is seen in FIG. 2 . The preferred embodimentmay first reduce the temperature of a volume of air to below ambient airtemperature. Then, defining a section of hair having an infestation ofundesirable adult lice, nits, or other ectoparasites. Third, introducinga volume of lubricating liquid at or near the base of the section ofhair preferably contacting or nearly contacting any ectoparasites ortheir eggs in the section of hair. Fourth, disperse the lubricatingliquid throughout the base of the section of hair such that thelubricating liquid is distributed evenly on the base of the section ofhair. The dispersion of the lubricating liquid may be accomplished byany means of delivering a liquid to parted or organized hair. Thisorganization of hair may be accomplished, for example, by hand or withtwo or more tines. It may also be accomplished simultaneously with theapplication of liquid or cooled air. Fifth, create movement of thevolume of cooled air so that it may be directed in a specified generaldirection. The movement of the volume of cooled air may be accomplishedby pressurizing a container of cooled air, through the use of a fan, orthrough the use of a blower. Sixth, direct the moving volume of cooledair at the section of hair. Direction of the moving volume of cooled airis accomplished in the preferred embodiment though the inclusion of aremovable component as discussed below. Seventh, maintain the movingvolume of cooled air at the section of hair for a predetermined periodof time, until the lubricating liquid has reduced in temperature to apredetermined temperature, or until the lubricating liquid has at leastpartially solidified or frozen so as to kill or immobilize theectoparasites and ectoparasite eggs. Eighth, direct the flow of cooledair through the section of hair until the temperature of the lubricatingliquid is uniform. Ninth, optionally observe the ectoparasites in thesection of hair to determine the effectiveness of the introduction ofcold air. Tenth, introduce an additional second lubricating liquid tothe section of hair. Eleventh, mechanically remove ectoparasites andtheir eggs from the section of hair. Mechanical removal may bepreferably accomplished by passing through the section of hear with acomb that has tines that are close enough together to allow hair to passthrough the tines while removing ectoparsites.

The examples and embodiments disclosed in this application are to beconsidered in all respects as illustrative and not limitative. The scopeof the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than by theforegoing description; and all changes which come within the meaning andrange of equivalency of the claims are intended to be embraced therein.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A method for removal of ectoparasitescomprising steps of: reducing a temperature of a volume of air belowambient air temperature to create a volume of cooled air, directing thevolume of cooled air into a removable component having a sleeve and areplaceable portion, the sleeve having an upper portion and a lowerportion, the replaceable portion having a body, the body having one ormore apertures and two or more tines, the sleeve holding a hose and thereplaceable portion such that the hose and the replaceable portion donot move relative to each other during operation of the removablecomponent, the removable component being removable from the hose afterthe operation, the body of the replaceable body having a cavitysufficient to accommodate the volume of cooled air and direct the volumeof cooled air to the one or more apertures, the one or more apertureshaving sufficient a size and orientation to direct the volume of cooledair from the cavity to hair, the two or more tines extending away fromthe body such that the two or more tines direct or organize the hair inorder to facilitate the application of the volume of cooled air to thehair, defining a section of the hair having an infestation of parasitesand parasite eggs, introducing a volume of lubricating liquid at or neara base of the section of the hair, dispersing the volume of lubricatingliquid throughout the base of the section of the hair, organizing thesection of the hair using the two or more tines, creating a flow of thevolume of cooled air, directing the flow of the volume of cooled air atthe section of the hair using the one or more apertures, moving the flowof the volume of cooled air through the section of the hair until atemperature of the volume of lubricating liquid reduces below theambient air temperature, and mechanically removing the parasites and theparasite eggs from the section of the hair.
 2. The method of claim 1including: contacting or nearly contacting the parasites and theparasite eggs in the section of the hair with the volume of lubricatingliquid.
 3. The method of claim 1 including: distributing the volume oflubricating fluid evenly on the base of the section of the hair.
 4. Themethod of claim 1 including: maintaining the flow of the volume ofcooled air at the section of the hair for a predetermined time wherebythe parasites and the parasite eggs are immobilized or killed.
 5. Amethod for removal of ectoparasites comprising steps of: reducing atemperature of a volume of air below ambient air temperature to create avolume of cooled air, directing the volume of cooled air into aremovable component having a sleeve and a replaceable portion, thesleeve having an upper portion and a lower portion, the replaceableportion having a body, the body having one or more apertures and two ormore tines, the sleeve holding a hose and the replaceable portion suchthat the hose and the replaceable portion do not move relative to eachother during operation of the removable component, the removablecomponent being removable from the hose after the operation, the body ofthe replaceable body having a cavity sufficient to accommodate thevolume of cooled air and direct the volume of cooled air to the one ormore apertures, the one or more apertures having sufficient a size andorientation to direct the volume of cooled air from the cavity to hair,the two or more tines extending away from the body such that the two ormore tines direct or organize the hair in order to facilitate theapplication of the volume of cooled air to the hair, defining a sectionof the hair having an infestation of parasites and parasite eggs,organizing the section of the hair using the two or more tines, creatinga flow of the volume of cooled air, directing the flow of the volume ofcooled air at the section of the hair using the one or more apertures,moving the flow of the volume of cooled air through the section of thehair, and mechanically removing the parasites and the parasite eggs fromthe section of the hair.
 6. The method of claim 5 including: introducinga volume of lubricating liquid at or near a base of the section of thehair.
 7. The method of claim 5 including: maintaining the flow of thevolume of cooled air at the section of the hair for a predetermined timewhereby the parasites and the parasite eggs are immobilized or killed.